The countdown to Freedom Festival 2026 has officially begun, and this year’s theme - Peace - couldn’t be more timely. As always, the festival will transform the city with bold performances, striking installations, and art that sparks conversation. It’s set to once again bring people together in a shared celebration of creativity.
Public spaces will once again be transformed into places of wonder - open, welcoming, and buzzing with life. Whether you’ve been part of the festival for years or you’re experiencing it for the first time, 2026 is shaping up to be a moment where art doesn’t just entertain, it connects. Recently announced shows include:
10,000 Hours - Thursday 03 September, Hull Truck
8 world-class acrobats take to the stage at Hull Truck to showcase their incredible physical skills in an hour-long tribute to the countless hours we pour into achieving our physical ambitions. A love letter to our bodies and the amazing things they can do every day, this high-intensity acrobatic show explores how far we'll go and how much of ourselves we'll dedicate to mastering our craft. Get tickets here.
The Butterfly Who Flew Into a Rave - Thursday 03 September, Location TBA
Witness 3 dancers take to the floor in an electrifying performance as they give themselves over to music, passion and an endless desire to achieve more. Relentless movement, seamless without pause, detailed down to every beat, this mesmerising dance performance is an ode to the enduring nature of techno and rave culture. As the performance concludes, you'll be invited onto the dancefloor for an extra hour of raving, your own chance to give yourself over to the music. Please note: Show contains haze/smoke, flashing lights (strobe) and loud music. Recommended age 12+. Get tickets here.
Quingo Starlequinn - Saturday 05 September, Hull City Centre
Quingo Starlequinn, national drummer, is here to lead a feel-good dance party through the streets of Hull City Centre. But Quingo is no ordinary drummer - he's an enormous puppet, complete with a built-in DJ booth in his drums, where a local DJ will cruise around providing the House tunes to get you moving and grooving! Created in collaboration with local disability groups, this is a wonderfully uplifting parade piece that you can watch as it takes over the street, or let the music carry you into the fold!
Babel - Saturday 05 September, Trinity Square
Witness how a group of strangers can come together and work collaboratively to build and erect a 12-metre tall tower in Trinity Square! It may sound simple, but from raising this wood and rope structure, to bringing it back down again, its success comes from the harmony of these individuals working together and combining their efforts to move each piece with precision.